What If Henry's Wives All Died?
Princess Mary wanted all of her half-brothers in her care. Edward, Jane Seymour's son was being brought up as a protestant. The very thought of such heresy being allowed in her father's court made her blood boil. Henry had achieved his lifelong ambition to have sons: perfect heirs to the throne. But Henry's love life, was more tragic. He had been married six times and all of them had died of puerperal fever.
Puerperal fever was The King's worst enemy. His first wife, Catherine of Aragon was Mary's mother. Together they had already suffered from a series of miscarriages and stillborn children. Mary was their first child to survive through infancy and just two years later her sister was stillborn. Mary was too young to understand how much the kingdom mourned. Within a year later she was in labour with Mary's brother. But Catherine's constant pregnancies had finally taken a toll to her health, leaving her vulnerable to puerperal fever - the childbirth disease that took her grandmother away before Mary got the chance to meet her.
The boy survived infancy and was named after his father, but died three days after Henry's marriage to Anne Boleyn. Mary couldn't stand her. She found Anne Boleyn to be selfish and unkind. She felt that Anne was looking down on her for not being the son that Henry desperately wanted. So much for keeping the faith. Mary was proud of her faith. Her catholic beliefs were the only thing that kept her sane in the cruel world. Her catholic beliefs reminded her of the mother and siblings she lost. And that they would always be with her and through Mary will her siblings know their love and affection.
Anne had given birth to a son named John, but Anne died shortly after birth. She had heard that Anne was hysterical over her death. Mary was actually disappointed that Anne had a son. As much as she wanted a son to please the king, she didn't want Anne to be the mother. But God moves in mysterious ways. God had brought Edward into the world and not Anne.
Jane Seymour was a much suitable wife for Henry. Mary adored her. She brought Henry closer to her father. Why Jane had to go to, Mary did not know. Anne and Catherine's death had made holes in her father's heart, and Jane had healed them. And just as she was the cure, she was also the cause when she passed away after giving Henry a son named Thomas.
Henry didn't marry again until 1940. Henry then made an usual choice with Anne of Cleves. At first he didn't like her, but it wasn't until she gave birth to Manfred was it that Anne of Cleves had earned the king's love. She too died that evening. She died in her sleep, a happy woman wishing nothing more than to please the king. Mary thought that God obviously needed her mothers, Catherine, Jane and Anne of Cleves to to her family's guardian angels.
Then her father wanted his youth back. When his eyes met Katherine Howard, his heart bounced. Mary was horrified. Her new stepmother was younger than him, and of a childbearing age, but she behaved like anything but a Queen. Mary saw her as nothing but a frivolous flaw, and to add insult to injury she was Anne Boleyn's cousin. She was a terrible catholic in Mary's opinion. She served her punishment for her sins when God took her away after giving birth to Charles.
Catherine Parr was Henry's last hope. She was more of a nurse than a wife to him. And at first, Mary loved her, until she discovered her protestant views. That night Catherine was in labour with Henry's child, Mary had prayed that Catherine died for her heretic beliefs and God had listened to her. To Mary, it was the biggest sin she ever committed. Catherine's son, Richard had been healthy, just like his brothers.
Had they have been daughters, they would have been declared bastards just how the Princess Mary had been declared one before. She had heard that many people would have preferred her to be Queen instead of her brothers. She knew that rumours and gossip thrived on court, but the concept of ruling England was something she liked. She would be the first Queen Regent of England. She could prove herself that she is the daughter of Henry and Catherine of Aragon.
There was a belief that there was two kind of women in the world: the weak and the whores. Mary knew that she was neither weak nor a whore. Even a world dominated by men, women too could have power too. Men and women both had their purposes. One could not live without the other. After Catherine Parr's death, Henry vowed that he would never marry again. He was old, weak and tired and a shadow of the youthful man he once was.
"Princess Mary..." The King muttered. He spoke as if a frog was stuck in his throat. "Why are you here?"
"I want my brothers in my care."
"Yes," The King said. He nodded his head and held onto Mary's hands. "You are young, and you must be a good mother to my precious sons. They are most dearly beloved."
"They will know their mother's love through me."
"You are so faithful and strong," Henry cackled. "Just like your mother. You would have been a great queen."
"If you think so highly of me, why don't you make me Queen until my brothers come of age."
"Why didn't I think of that before?" Henry asked himself. "I was not always kind to you. Your mother would be turning in her grave if she knew how I treated you. You didn't deserve it. I hope that you will one day find a wonderful king who will treat you better than I did."
It was the last words he heard his father speak. He turned gray and Mary felt just a little colder. Mary and her five half-brothers were left orphans in the world. In her mind, her mother's spirit. "God moves in mysterious ways my sweet child."